France’s independent fiscal authority has expressed significant skepticism regarding the government’s ambitious proposal to eliminate public holidays as a measure to boost productivity and address economic stagnation. In its latest assessment, the watchdog emphasized that the plan’s effectiveness in delivering the anticipated fiscal gains “remains to be proven”, highlighting the need for robust evidence and detailed impact analyses before any legislative moves are made. Officials have warned that the social and economic consequences of scrapping holidays could trigger public unrest and might not translate into the projected economic benefits.

The watchdog’s concerns center on several key uncertainties:

  • Potential impact on worker morale and productivity
  • Long-term effects on consumer spending during traditional holiday periods
  • Fiscal assumptions behind the anticipated…